Thursday, October 28, 2010

I was thinking back to when I first began selling my wreaths online... back in November of '08. I'd made them before, but I wasn't sure if everyone would like them so I waited a while to offer them online. Sisters and daughters and nieces usually tell you all sorts of nice things about your handmade items, so you can't really go by what they say. ;)

I first offered sheet music wreaths at Simply Primitives and TDIPT Mercantile, and then I began offering more of my vintage book wreaths on my website and in my Etsy shop, HoneysuckleLane.

{children's vintage book wreath made by Lana Manis}

I am so fortunate that someone out there, somewhere, liked my paper art and continued to buy it so I could continue making it --- because I love working with paper... old book pages, old sheet music, parchment paper that's been stained, aged, painted... just about any kind of paper. I love cutting it, folding it, rolling it, weaving it...

{soldered heart in hand charm necklace made by Lana Manis}

{angel wings made by Lana Manis}

{puzzle purse valentine made by Lana Manis}

Although I work in other mediums, too, I always have a paper project going.
Lately, I have been busy with custom orders and I haven't been able to make many items for my fairly new website, Simple Joys Paperie, as I'd hoped. I should have all orders finished and on their way by the end of October and that leaves me with just under two weeks to have new items made for SJP by the 15th of November. I'll have several items for holiday decorating, as well as plenty of creations for gifts.
So please don't stray too far away... I have the ideas and sketches, I just need to find the time. :)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I was going to title this post Lucky, but I really don't believe in luck. I believe things happen for a reason.

We are blessed in so many ways, spiritually, physically... blessed with peace in our hearts, blessed with family and friends, blessed with homes, blessed with food, and even blessed with little lovely frivolties and things that make just us smile.

I want to share with you a few of the latter blessings I've received in the last several months. None of these were necessities, but they either make me smile or make life just a bit easier. All of the following were won via generous, talented, sharing bloggers (and a store). :)

{lovely gift from Beth @ Gypsy Fish Journal ~ just my style!}

Back in March I entered Beth's giveaway at Gypsy Fish Journal. <<< Click that link to see the giveaway post. I've admired her jewelry and other creations for quite a while and was so surprised and very, very happy when I got an email from her telling me that I'd won! Beth sells her lovelies in her Etsy shop, so be sure to head over there when you are finished here.

{the gorgeous charm that Beth sent to me}

Another wonderful giveaway that I won was over at Faded Plains. <<< Click the link to the left to see the giveaway post. Andrea has such a lovely blog and a lovely Etsy shop to match! I can't tell you how thrilled I was when she emailed me to tell me I had won... well, yes I can.... I was utterly thrilled!!! :)

And last but not least was the giveaway over at Susan's Hometown Girl blog. She also has a wonderful Etsy shop that you need to visit. Susan sponsored a giveaway for CSN Stores. To be honest, I had never heard of them until then. I am now a big fan!!! I won a $60 gift certificate from CSN and this is what I spent it on:

We had been using a cheap $10 coffee maker for quite some time after our Black and Decker under the counter model kicked the bucket. With the cheap one, the coffee tasted scorched, the pot got stuck when you tried to get it out to pour coffee, and then when you poured coffee, it leaked around the spout. Roger said "you buy cheap, you get cheap" and he was right, but don't tell him I agree with him! ;)

Susan emailed me the info to contact CSN, and then the rep emailed me the code to use. I got my coffee maker in less than a week. What took so long was me trying to decide what to purchase! :) I will definitely be shopping with them again… and again… and again...

Thank you so much CSN Stores!!!

So...... those are just a few of the blessings that came my way... nothing needed, nothing I couldn't do without, but they make life so much nicer!

Both of those shops / pages will be emptied late Sunday night. I've got a lot going on here and don't have time or the space to keep vintage items stocked for a shop. I've tried to resist shopping for vintage items at thrift stores and estate sales for a while. :)

Some of you have been patiently waiting for me to list Christmas ornaments on the Junk Sale page.
I haven't forgotten, I have just been so busy that I haven't had time to dig them out of the boxes in the basement. I hope to do that soon. :)

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting again tomorrow if I don't forget.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

I love collecting odd little things, bits and pieces from here and there, many times finding something at the bottom of a box that has been passed over many times. Eventually, I will use them, the vintage pale aqua flowers from a wedding cake topper will be used in a shadow box.

An odd little metal piece will become a base for a make-do pincushion﻿.

A mother of pearl button and feathers will be added to a curiosity cone.

Suzanne (Pear Tree Primitives) and I have made several curiosities for our latest update.

We'd love for you to come by for a visit and let un know what you think:

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

{Feel free to use the "Have you scheduled your mammogram?" photo on your blogs, websites, etc.}

"Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) (also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

These pretties will be leaving home soon to go to a local shop...
unless someone online sees one that they want. Before I boxed my items up, I thought I'd offer some here first.

Here's a description:

Lovely, romantic, and nostalgic, these vintage style corsage pins are perfect to wear to an autumn party, a fall ball, a wedding, and would even be a pretty accent piece for your denim jacket! Made from faintly iridescent robin's egg blue ribbon or copper / brown / taupe iridescent ribbon. Vintage millinery stamens were purchased from my favorite trims and embellishments dealer in Europe. Other accents include velvet millinery leaves. They are finished on the back with matching felt and a nickel plated pin clasp. Corsages are approximately 4" - 4 1/2" across.

Friday, October 1, 2010

I have had this title for a while... it sat there in the title box, alone, waiting, watching, listening... and the words just didn't follow.

So this morning I am writing what's in my heart, as it comes, and it may seem scattered, but like a collage of this...

and that...

hopefully it will make sense in the end...

These days I am uncertain, uncertain of many things and I am always, always aware of my imperfections.
I often wonder: Am I alone? Does anyone else feel this way?

Imperfection (in blogging, for now) ~

I want a blog that's encouraging... a blog that's happy, beautiful, thoughtful, funny, kind, sharing, and joyful... but that's not always how I feel. It's hard to write those kinds of things when I feel imperfect or uncertain. I would love to be a blogger that presents a blog that is light and airy and dreamy and perfect... I love those kinds of blogs and they are very inspiring! Never a thing out of place, never a typo (ok, Suzanne, you can stop laughing now!), never an out of focus photograph, not a lot of clutter but just enough "stuff" to make you feel warm and cozy and comfortable. That blog ambiance just doesn't happen for me, for some reason I just can't make it work. Instead, I'm always busy, trying to fit 36 hours in a 24 hour day, postponing blogging or making improvements to my blog to take care of things here at home. When I do show up with a post so you don't think I've vanished, my posts sometimes seem intermittent and rambling and in disarray. I don't like that, and yet I keep posting. I really, really wish I could get my blogger act together, and have everything perfectly organized and not in a jumbled mess . :)

***

While reading this, keep in mind that although I want to give you a perfect and lovely blog, I also want you to know there is a human being here, too. One that is always imperfect, one that is sometimes scared and uncertain, and I want to share my heart so that you know the real me, not the online me. I have read many, many articles about building your brand online and creating an online persona to make your business a success. I just can't do that. I am what I am and you get what you see (or read, in this instance). You won't get the personal ramblings on my website that you get here, but somewhere (as in here) I just want you to know me as I am ~ and hopefully you will stick around. :)

***

Uncertainty ~ I could go on and on about that. I am uncertain about so many things, but for now I'll address just my work. I am not telling you this for sympathy ~ well, maybe a little, lol ~ but again, so that you know there is a human being behind Honeysuckle Lane and Simple Joys Paperie. That there are days when business is good and then there are days when it is slow and I am uncertain about the future. Should I continue to believe and have faith and follow my heart and make what I love,

or should I give in to fear and uncertainty ~ just close up shop and find something else? In this economy, I am uncertain about my business and wonder if I can contribute enough to help our family. Our household is supported solely by self-employment. My husband's boss unexpectedly closed his construction business a few years ago, which left my husband and his brothers to find construction jobs on their own. Even with construction work being down a huge percentage, thankfully, they have been able to keep working through these uncertain times ~ they have a great reputation for doing quality work which has been a big plus! But since I do contribute, I worry about my own sales from week to week. I am uncertain, at times, if I am doing what I should be doing.

However, when I have thoughts of uncertainty and doubt, I remind myself of all the things I wrote on my Inspirations page. I remind myself that God blessed me to work from home when my kids were small (and I believe He will continue to bless me to work at home). I was able to work at something I love and still be able to be there for my kids and for my parents. I have to remind myself that God will take care of His own, no matter what may come. Yes, I am human and need to be reminded and reassured ~ a lot!

There are so many passages in the Bible that are comforting and encouraging when I am scared, uncertain, and doubtful. Let me share just a few with you and perhaps, if you have days of uncertainty and worries, these will come to mind and be of help to you:

"Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.." Psalm 91:4

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Proverbs 3:5-10

If you made it all the way down here, thank you for listening and for sticking around.

If you'd like to share your thoughts, feel free to leave a comment. :)

Adornments

Art - Originals and Prints

Blessings

I designed these book page wings in 2009 after hearing my daughter talk of angel wings for a Christmas play. You may read more by clicking on the photo.

Vintage Book Page Wreaths

I began designing these in 2008 and sold them in my Honeysuckle Lane Etsy shop. Paper designs sort of took over my creative life and I opened a second shop, Simple Joys Paperie. You may see more in the sold section of my Simple Joys Paperie Etsy shop. Just click on the photo.